Echoes of Eternity

Hear the stories.

We sort through the spoils of killing the Daelkyr. This appears to have been a massive treasury at some point. There was still a locked door that appeared to have some form of magical trap. It was disarmed after a few tries and I felt a rush of energy spew from the door. Inside was a resting place for artifacts. Giant artifacts that seemed to shrink to our size when held. These were meant to kill my people. Each used in a different way to help detect and find them. I don’t want to kill my people however from fighting might need to happen and these will become useful.

We speak with the King of the Dark Elves to ensure that the treasury is guarded until we can figure out what to do with the shard. Rilmage has decided that he wants to leave and see some of the world. I wonder what introducing the dark elves to the rest of the world will do to our future. What will killing this Daelkyr do to the future.

We head to Sharn to sell our goods. While there I unfortunately needed to purchase a psionic item and ran in to the ambassador. They know of my deeds in Xendrick. It is better now that I do not say anything. I am closer to helping them survive, but they will not understand my intent for now. I will keep my time here to a minimum and hopefully we do not need to spend much more time in this time.

One year roughly of end of time retraining, and crafting

We decide to check on a few things to see what has changed. The Library in Orlast is now a public library and maintained by the Golden Flame and the Order of Faith. It also appears the warforged were never slaves and the statues of them in the ruins are gone. I need to free Xerxus and give him his mission. There are Drow that live south of Allieua, not a bad outcome for making sure there people survive. Rilmage is somehow still alive in our present. He lives in Bright and his personality has changed a bit.

We head to the Fey lands only a day later than when Xerxus was deposited in to the tree. My aura helps supress the insanity inside of him and I attempt to break him from the curse however I am not strong enough to do so. Luckily Gilroy uses his ability to heal to remove what curses Xerxus. One of the artifacts we found was a sphere that fits perfectly inside Xerxus’s chest hole and it awakens as he puts it in. I can speak telepathically with her. Her name is Sheera and she was a Quori. This was another failed attempt by my people. I take the heart of the living machine, my soul, and we bring Xerxus back to Bright.

We head back to the time before the war on Bright to find Xerxus. He was in the woods on a normal patrol. We give him the sphere and heart of the living machine again so that he can bring them to Sarington and help protect Alacor while giving him what he needs to properly restore me when he does.

This turns out to be more successful than I would have imagined. The terrors of Sarington never happened and Alacor does not turn. Xerxus as well is still there and second in command. Hopefuly we can continue to make positive changes like this and save time. I feel as though we are close, and yet so far away.

2017-02-11

It seemed as though we had gotten a handle on this battle. The flesh tower had sustained some damage. We were progressively eliminating all the other abominations. Then, he arrived. The Daelkyr emerged through a portal at the base of the tower. His aura of grandeur and power emanated through the area. What a smug prick. Upon his arrival, Gilroy, his angel that he summoned, and Lukar lost their minds. It would appear my potential ancestor is going to be a liability.

Following shortly behind him were several other abominations – two huge clawed otherworldly creatures, four floating eye creatures, and two more beholders. The clawed aliens quickly approached us. I discerned quickly that they possess an aura that attempts to dispel magic. That’s convenient. Arius acted swiftly and removed the onset of insanity from the others and then summoned the great phoenix of the flame, which opened with a magnificent firestorm, incinerating the enemies in the room. Lukar and I continued as we had planned. We can’t ignore what has been attacking us.

In a flash of brilliance, Gilroy called upon the golden flame to grant him power and also called upon the the ancient knights of the flame to assist us in combat. Thirteen knights began a group onslaught on our foes with a firestorm, which roasted everything in the cavern.

Following suit, Dazen called upon the green mother for additional power and attempted to lower the Daelkyr’s resistance to magic, to no avail.

The Daelkyr’s retaliation came in the form of entering into melee combat with Gilroy, where his strike appear to drain his life essence. It also seemed to have some kind of gaze attack, but it didn’t take affect. Meanwhile, the clawed creatures fired a poisonous breath weapon, infecting Lukar.

After all the damage done to it, the one Dazen referred to as his friend retreated into the portal. I constructed a wall of light around the portal to inconvenience anyone who would be reinforcing the enemy. Arius then repositioned everyone appropriately so the correct people could flank the appropriate foes.

Gilroy granted holy power to everyone around him and then used a dimensional blade spell to strike the Daelkyr, heavily wounding it. In response, it turned Rhylmage into a pile of corpses, drained a significant portion of Gilroy’s life, and mutated everyone in the room. I now have raw, elemental energy coursing through my bloodstream.

In desperation, I called to Oleon for power and released a firestorm of my own to clean up any remaining inconvenient creatures. Meanwhile, Arius strikes a bargain with the Daelkyr trapped inside Gilroy, and gains newfound power and attempts to inflict pain, which does not take affect.

After his initial attempt to pierce his defenses, Dazen resorted to potent acid blasts, and between that and Gilroy firmly lodging his holy avenger deep inside the Daelkyr, it was slain. The corpse pile found it appropriate to eat the dead tree abominations.

We decided to pursue the remaining eye creature that we thought was holding onto Dazen and Gilroy’s memories. It pleaded with us not to kill it, and with the remaining bit of what Olean granted me, I turned this ancient elf back to normal, and Rhylmage. Apparently this once-again elf is quite scholarly and knowledgeable. Perhaps he will be of use since he has been displaced so far out of time with his kin. From here, we have a temple of vast treasure to explore.

What's next?

On the 24th of Nymm we returned to Flamekeep to catch up on goings on. Arius was the first to speak, and he spoke at length about (female) Alacor, with whom he “shared everything” about the past, present, and the future. Jayden, as always, asked whether this was for the best, and I’m glad he asked (for once) because I wondered the same. Arius was able to answer very quickly, convincing me that Alacor (in this form) is very interested in the same goals as our group.

As for what he learned, there are several important points. 1) Arius believes he can save Sarrington between “now” and the collapse of the planes. His experience with the Plane of Dreams attempting to break through during the ritual to make Saber gave him some insight, and maybe some confidence. 2) He seems certain Xerxes was meant to give Arius his soul so that his memories would be restored, thereby preventing his “evil” nature from taking control as it did once. 3) The memory shards we once believed belonged to Alacor are actually mind shards of Arius. Gilroy asked immediately if there was a mind seed of Arius in his brain… and Arius could not answer in specific terms. 4) Arius’s soul, he thinks, was being shepherded by Vinder (Vindral’s father). 5) In Xendric, Arius believes there is a magical relic or place of importance, guarded by Umbergen (drow).

In addition to generating leads of what to do next, Arius also mentioned he tasked Alacor with purging the church of rotten eggs, as well as studying the Plane of Dreams to prevent the collapse in Sarrington.

Gilroy, over the past two months, had been working tirelessly with the Church of Golden Flame. A rather extensive library of the church’s teachings and history has been established, which I appreciate as a student of magic. He also spoke with the new Keeper about the fleshwarped creatures currently residing on (in?) Vindral, and Thokishsty believes they can be cleansed by the Golden Flame as was the breastplate. The church, he mentioned is working towards demilitarization, in hopes that paladins will remain a dedicated arm of the church meant to fight evil, not politics. Speaking of politics, Gilroy hopes that as we move from city to city (as will others), we can root out the corrupt members of the church, like the Hierophant of Sharn, who is currently on her way to Flamekeep to meet the new Keeper. At least, that’s what she believes. It’s actually a way to get her in the Chamber of Flame and confront her. I am greatly looking forward to that meeting, as are several others, especially Gilroy.

Gilroy then brought up a powerful vision he had a few weeks after the rest of us left Flamekeep. It sounds like the Flame is stronger now, able to reach out to more people directly, not just the Keeper. Saber confirmed this, echoing Thokishsty’s thoughts. The vision, likely given to him by the Flame, featured a lithe bipedal form surrounded by robed figures. Gilroy believes the lithe figure (possibly demonic of undead) was contesting for control of the skull. But, as Jayden said, we “beat it”, so I am sure we will never hear from that person/creature in the future (present future or future future)…

Lastly, I brought up my planned trip to Stormhome, to meet with Thordrin D’Lyrindar from the Twelve. As always, the others knew far more about the city than I, and so the group decided we would travel together. Braun was especially excited at the idea, for Stormhome is a resort island and a bustling city.

So that afternoon (the 24th), we left for Stormhome via Jayden’s plant travel. We split up almost immediately. Gilroy and Arius went to explore the city together, while Braun went to find us a place to stay and gather some information for me on the head of Gilroy’s “family”. Jayden transformed into a mouse and stayed in my pocket, so that I was not alone during my meeting with Thoradrin. Aurora left to buy some local clothing and learn more about the city and its inhabitants. Lukar stayed behind and did not join us for the trip.

2016-10-8

In light of our pending foray into the underground, we decided it would be best to be at full strength and retrieve Lukar from Flamekeep. Upon our return into the warning chamber, I stumbled upon a Swordmaster’s Blindfold. It was among one of the many skeletons that littered the chamber. No doubt this was overlooked while ambushing some unsuspecting treasure hunters. Arius and I had a bit of a dispute over whether or not I should put it back. Fortunately, Rylmaje interrupted the uncomfortable situation, which prompted me to hand it over to him. I don’t see how it is my fault that people are careless about their spoils of war. I’m sure Arius was pleased since it made us look good to them or some such nonsense.

Rylmaje assessed our preparedness for combat down here. Upon learning of Gilroy and Arius’ inability to see in the dark, he retreated to his home and retrieved a wand of darkvision for obvious reasons. He didn’t particularly care for Gilroy’s use of his halo in order to light the path. Once we were prepared, we made our way through a maze of tunnels to where we were expecting a caravan of captured elves were to be brought through. If I didn’t know better, I would have been expected to be ambushed. Rylmaje does seem to be honorable, however.

We arrived at the cave and set up an ambush of our own. As a magma elemental, I waited inside of a stalagmite, while the rest concealed themselves behind others. Eventually, the caravan arrived. Four creatures known as Skaros, as well as six Mind Flayers were escorting ten drow and one human clergyman of the Silver Flame. We opened combat with Lukar using the ability of his new helmet to outright slay one of the mind flayers. Arius followed up by disintegrating another. I summoned earth elementals to keep more busy. Dazen threw around witch fire and lightning, while Gilroy and Valeforasten handled the rest. Rylmaje proved to be quite lethal in his skulking through the shadows as well.

When the dust settled, we spoke briefly with the clergyman and escorted him back to the Flame Keep and the drow that were not part of Rylmaje’s home out of the caves. We were taken in a completely different way so that it would be excessively difficult to learn the paths of the caves. When all was done, we returned to the warning cave, where Rylmaje escorted us to his home.

I didn’t know what to expect from an underground city, but I have to admit, I was impressed. I thought only dwarves would be able to create spaces like this. Rylmaje took us to his dwelling, which seemed to be housing styled for multiple single people, like a barracks or something like that. He told us a bit about his people and the Vault where all their knowledge is kept. That part sounded like a good place to find forgotten magic. Perhaps something useful could be acquired there. Unfortunately, I got the impression that we didn’t have specific direction as to where we will be going next. I thought we were supposed to go handle the Dalkir that was down here as soon as possible. That seems like it might be more difficult than expected.

The process of moving the soul from the fort to the skull has been a taxing one. However it has been an enlightening one all the same. It is a good thing I did not let him do it alone. The plane of dreams tried to crash down upon the area and I held it back. It was a spur of the moment occurrence, but I think it can be replicated on a larger scale. I will need to speak with Alacor about this and other things.

A moon appeared at one point, the moon of Sypheros I believe. Someone or something wants this to be done and doesn’t want others knowing what is happening. Finally after 2 months this is coming to a close:

A crude archway stands before you adorned with vines and simple flowers running up the sides. Fastened to the rungs on the sides you see what appear to be 8 bird nests, four on each side. The nests contain reagents that Jaden has been collecting over the last several days. In the top two nests, sit large nightshards that glisten in the twilight. Next, on the left sits black lotus with death lily mirroring it on the right. After that, onyx gems sitting in vampire dust. Finally, hanging from the middle by a silver wire is the skull that will contain the spirit of the fortress with a small bell wedged between the teeth in its mouth.

Jaden moves to the other side of the archway opposite the group and gestures for Dazen to stand mirroring him. He then has Lukar stand on one of the sides of the archway to Jaden’s left and asks to expose his dragon mark. Lastly, Braun stands on the other side of the archway to Jaden’s right. Jaden begins chanting the incantation as the ley lines beneath the archway light up beneath him and channel inward. He begins raising his hands, palm outward to chest level to make a 90 degree angle (so that his palms face Lukar and Braun). In doing so, Dazen and Braun’s hands instinctively raise the same way. Natural energy from Braun channels out to Jaden and Dazen, which traverse their bodies mixing with the energy of the ley lines and complete the circuit at Lukar’s dragon mark. A faint light begins to emanate from the eyes of the skull…

Once it was completed we spoke with the skull and found out it is alligned with the golden flame. As much as I do not care for religion and divine casting it appears there is no getting away from it. The golden flame seems to be empowering more and more around me.

I need to do more research on my people in this time to figure out what happened all those years ago. The best place to do that here will be Arcanix. I believe others have research they need to do as well.

Arius’s notes on the happenings in Xendrick:

Before elves warred upon the giants
Quori were warring from dalkor
Wanted to prevent a magical battle with giants
Quori brought war to them
War lasted 1000 years
Giants won
Giants are the reason Dalkor never comes into alignment with eberron however it still touches it
The war severely damaged xendrick
Some magic went rampant
Part of xendrick went into the ocean
Most of the ruins that have been explored are just south of Storm Reach
The giant ruins are in the central part
West and southwest have not been explored
3 powerful groups in the giants
The ones that were combative with quori were the Sulat
There are ruins that show reference of them
Military of nature based on buidings
Had large focus of major desert area of xendrick
Pretty sure there are mention of the Quori army, by the way people wrote in text it seems the quori had a “controlled” army. I’m pretty sure that meant they had living constructs
Seems like warforged which is strange because they were created during the last war and this was a long time ago
Giants learn arcane magic from dragons
Dragons saw continuing evolution of giants so they taught them magic
Giants started taking it to a dark place and using blood magic

From the first day I started working with this group of people I knew something was different about them. I’ve been studying them for quite some time now and I’ve quickly learned that nothing is out of the realm of possibilities for them. In fact, I believe they live in a realm of infinite possibilities. The people they know and who value their input such as the new keeper of the flame Thakashti is only something I could’ve attained had I been dragon marked and not cursed, although extremely helpful in situations, with this outcast of a mark. This mark is always something I’ve kept hidden for fear of being shunned at best and killed at worst; but with them I feel as though I do not need to hide it from them, they seem more interested in the abilities it grants me rather than the disdain that society dictates they should have for it.
As for the events that have taken place with this group they have been quite harrowing and at times flat out deadly. I must say it has been quite invigorating as it has been quite some time since I last saw this much action. Most of my days in Thrane had been spent growing my house’s influence and political capital. Now I’m back in the field again, the tip of the spear, and it has rejuvenated me. As dangerous as the combat has been I finally felt at home again doing something I greatly excelled at. As fast as the combat came it was all over just as quickly. We met with Thakashti to discuss the governing future of Thrane. Most of the group was for a representative form of government which personally I would have preferred to hand the power back to queen but I felt a representative form of government was most fair for all parties involved, maybe we can get someone of house Thurrani on this council, I wouldn’t mind filling that role; one can’t be a dealer of death forever.
Then came the time for my entire world to be flipped upside down and turned inside out. I knew my compatriots had mentioned they were time travelers but always brushed it off as some delusion of grandeur, the queen had asked me to work with them so I always felt it was best for group cohesion to just go along with such a ridiculous story. Turns out this non-sense they had been speaking of was in fact as true as rain is wet. Their airship was in fact their time travelling device. I’m not sure how it works or if I really even want to know how it works for fear of getting caught in an infinite loop of thought. All of what happen seemed to be a blur. We travelled to 5,000 years into the future and then proceed to teleport all over the place to see if anything had changed. Believe me when I tell you everything has changed the future is not anywhere close to what we in the present picture it to be. There are ruins everywhere, cities submerged, and populations decimated. No person from my time should have to bear witness to this. To see the future can only make one beyond paranoid. Thankfully we travelled so far into the future that there was not a chance of learning of my own personal death. For the rest of my group everything was as they left it saying nothing has changed. It makes me wonder if the future was once glorious and these time travelers made a mistake and are now attempting to redeem themselves. And as if my head wasn’t already spinning fast enough I finally saw Jaden’s true form, my grandfather, yet he claims he has no idea who he is and has never heard of him which would be one thing if he simply looked similar but even identical twins don’t look this much alike. The group keeps having step on these rune circles to see if it will light up blue for me but nothing happens. I don’t fully understand but they seem intrigued and puzzled as to why it won’t light up for me. Maybe its because I am not from their time or who’s ever time this is, maybe it’s because of my mark, or maybe it’s the universes idea of some meaningless joke.

PS
We went to the very end of time because that is a place in case any of those reading this were wondering. Apparently I am the Dark Mother’s secret son. As if the mystery of time travel wasn’t great enough the universe has decided to throw another one at me.

Rebirth

After dispatching the last group of possessed guards, we came to the Keeper’s hall. Before us were doors too heavy to force open with no discernible latches or handles. My witchfire acid made short work of the doors, but we were too late.

On the floor lay the fragile body of a young girl, too young for the burden of the church, and far too young for death. Around the room were all manner of creatures, including some creature pretending to be the queen. I could see the illusion magic wrapped around its form, but still, I confirmed the queen’s presence with Arorra. Our enemies were not few in number: shadow demons, demons whose appearance were akin to birds of prey, a boar-headed demon, priests, and blue-gray demons wielding fiery swords. Most were spread throughout the room, but the priests surrounded the hierophants, and among them I could see Thokishtay, cut and bruised.

Lukar was the first to gather his wits, calling upon what I suspected was a birthmark ability, which summoned undead. While our enemies made short work of the ghouls and ghast, I’m glad they absorbed the hits for us. Then the 5 shadow demons cast shadow fireballs at our group, and Gilroy’s aura of resistance saved all but Arius and I. Even still, Arius’s will was too much for him to believe in such illusions, as was mine. Seeing the failures of the shadow demons, the bird demons stopped their manical dancing and screeched, stunning Lukar, giving the “queen” an opportunity to say: “If you do not leave this place we will be forced to kill all of them.” In response I shouted “PRETENDER” and cast summon swarm to gather the necessary power to summon the 3 sisters. During my casting, the boar demon tried feebleminding me, but my strength of will, bolstered by Gilroy’s grace helped me shrug it off. Arius used sensory cascade on the vrocks, overwhelming their senses as he recalled knowledge for each creature in the room. Gilroy channeled, healing many of us, floated his shield in front of him, and then lit in a golden fire as he called upon his pact to smite evil. The boar demon was his target.

The shadow demons tried their luck at possessing someone, probably Lukar, as he was still stunned by the Vrocks. They were not successful, as his mind was protected from evil. Braun moved with me, readying himself to attack, as two vrocks broke through the sensory cascade and attack Gilroy and Lukar. The blue-gray demons spewed boiling blood onto the hierophants as the queen moved to pick up the keeper’s body. Just then, I felt the power of nature flow through me as I called Sinlay, Mindolin, and Sandara. They appeared with looks of disgust upon their faces, struggling to see me through the crowd of enemies. They began striking the boar demon, but its hide proved resistant to their attacks. I moved into the room next to them, the Vrocks attacks passing through my stardust form. Then the nalfeshnee tried dispelling me, but the dust form again protected me from its power. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Arius assaulted the “queen” with his power, and disintegrated her, saving the keeper from what I assume is a fate worse than death. Jayden, struggling to decide his best course of action, summoned a wall of blinding light around the hierophants, protecting them, but also blinding them. And while the light was bright and beautiful, it paled in comparison to the radiance Gilroy began to emanate as he turned into an aspect of the heavens. The wall of light and Gilroy’s transformation scared the priests into moving away and turning invisible.

Though stunned, Lukar activated another family power: death ward, as the shadow demons fled from the room. Braun came to my side again, preparing to assist the sisters and Gilroy, as Captain Malik came in through the hallway. He looked tired, angry, distressed, changed, covered in black flame. “You killed her!?” pointing to Gilroy with his great sword, calling upon his own malevolent pact. Sensing the additional danger, Gilroy spread his holy light out to the sisters, giving them holy power to dispatch the nalfeshnee. I tried holding Malik in place, empowering it with my crown, but his will was too strong, like an evil version of Gilroy. Arius whipped egos while Jayden created a fire storm, burning almost every enemy remaining the chamber. Then, Gilroy ran forward and jumped into the Flame.

I’m not certain if Gilroy has shared everything that happened with us, but I know his faith was confirmed that day, and nothing will break it now. I think he saved the Flame, and I think he saved the rest of us. An instant later, he returned and all the fires in the room changed to a golden hue. And much to his relief, Gilroy called out for his companion, Valefor, and in a rush of golden fire and scintillating scales, he appeared, announcing his greater strength with not only a verbal statement, but a flame strike. Guards tried to attack Valefor, but they fail, while Malik attacks Gilroy and almost kills him. I pierced the magical resistance of Malik, lowering it for the others, but failed to do the same on the nalfeshnee. Taking advantage of his lower resistance, Arius inflicted pain on Malik, and then brutalized his wounds. Ifreet, who Arius summoned seconds earlier, created a river of flame through the seven blue-gray demons, killing all but one. Jayden cast banishment, return two vrock from whence they came. Gilroy called upon the golden flame to smite Malik, but Malik struck a mighty blow, killing GIlroy.

Lukar studied new targets to attack as Dazen asked that he help Gilroy, who was brought back to life by Valefor, who announced “I will bring him back as many times as it takes to put you down”. Braun moved up next to Malik, in preparation to fight with the sisters and Gilroy. But again, Malik smites Gilroy and kills him, though Valefor, true to his word, brings him back. Frustrated and scared, I tried sending Malik into the beyond, but he resisted, however, Arius took advantage of the distraction and used dissipating touch on Malik, killing him once and for all.

With the battle over, healing energy poured over the room from Gilroy, Dazen, and the hierophants, and just then, golden flame erupted around Thokishtay. Apparently the flame, like Gilroy, has matured, and decided a grown woman was a better choice for the role of Keeper.

Once the deceased keeper’s body was put to rest, her body burned in golden fire, bursting to life again as a phoenix sprang from her ashes. The phoenix’s voice was that of a child, and she asked politely if she could join with “Mr. Arius”. I haven’t seen Arius smile much in the time I’ve known him, but at the question, he grinned. Thokistay informed Gilroy that should he have need of it, the power of the Golden Flame will join with him. I suspect it will give him the level of abilities I receive when I called upon the Green Mother. And she also tells him that the knights of old will come to his aid if he calls on them. Obviously pleased, Gilroy too was smiling as she announced his new title.

In private, Thokishtay asked us our thoughts on the politics of Thrane. Should it be run by the Church, or the royal family? Or something else? I know my feelings… we’ll see what the others have to say.

Whispering Darkness

We were on a mission to a nearby ruined town, guarding the Queen, and investigating the rumors of the undead. It was an ambush. Hired assassins were there to greet us, or rather, me. Someone had hired one of the killing houses to assassinate me. Evidently I am a threat to the status quo.

Thankfully though I fell to the dark shadows thankfully by the grace of my friends I survived. Arius brought me to the healing hands of Thakshtay and Arrora’s mysterious psionics were able to subdue the assassins.

Gavin was able to use his black magic to dominate the minds of the weak. It’s a power we’ve warned about and been victim to before. Strange that he relies on it so. But there is a greater evil at hand than bending the minds of others. And while it is distasteful sometimes we must compromise. At least no life is lost and that is a blessing.

After much debate it is decided to go see the Silver Flame and speak directly to the Keeper. During my prayers I could feel a dark pressing on my heart. It was a suffocating, cloying feeling. It was fear. We had to leave immediately.

Teleporting, in to the cathedral we were greeted with a series of shadow demons and their possessed victims. I was able to dispel some of the spirits and we saved many knights. But some fell to their domination. This is what happens when Dazen’s power is wielded by a heart of darkness. I must ensure his remains on the side of light though the source of his power is on the edge of night.

Charging through the cathedral we gathered our full might and arrived at the door to the Chamber of the Silver Flame. It was sealed and inside we could hear the echoes of screams. Demons were openly attacking.

Dazen blasts a hole through the door as no other magic or strength can get us through. Inside is a scene of nightmares. The Keeper is slain. Dancing demons have poured open their black souls into the Flame. The Traitors are here with someone who appears to be the Queen. My thoughts go to Arrora, neither here alive nor dead.

I look to my friends who have brought me here. They make me strong. But I must be stronger now. I know what must be done.

2016-06-18

I am starting to think we’re getting sidetracked from our objective. I spent a significant amount of time with this queen now where nothing has happened. The bureaucracy that Monarchs have to deal with is so tedious. On top of that people bring the most petty of problems to the person with theoretically the most power. It’s no wonder why this land got wrecked by war. We need to find a time period to go to that isn’t too far into the future from here. Right now, we’re about 5000 years before the next closest era and there is little to no information about Eberron. We’re wandering blind and aside from Gilroy’s problem, there does not seem to be anything to do here. The only mildly interesting piece of information I’ve gathered is that the guard captain wants the queen to disassociate from us. I can’t really blame him to be honest. He has to know he’s in over his head at this point.

The rest of the group decided to go back to the storage area at the inn. It’s empty with no sign of anything to work with, so Dazen, Gilroy and Lukar headed to the ruined part of town to look for some clue of what has been going on while Arius remained to listen to the candle. In doing so, they stumbled on a what they suspected to be a shifter house with a sublevel and an altar for worshipping deities that are not the Silver Flame. Did people really come to destroy others for worshipping a different god? I guess no matter how advanced a civilization is, primal arrogance is always in play. The altar had a charred silver flame on it with some notes around it. Apparently the flame was desecrated in some way and Gilroy channeling his holy power was able to cleanse it. In investigating similar structures, other sublevels were found along with one that was trapped to burn those who enter, but not magically. That is at least interesting.

Later at night, voices from the candle revealed some new and cryptic information.

“The monarch is ready to fall”
“I have acquired things of there”
“I have acquired things of theirs”
“Flamewind’s prophecy is here”
“More dark ones have been called”
“The gilded ones are of Shattakar”
‘“I have one’s blood" – same as acquired things guy
“They cannot stop him”
“The mind healer was not killed”
“I have confirmed, they have been arrested, we will not hear from them”

In light of this, the group decided we needed to go Shattakar, the ruined area outside the city that the cardinals wanted investigated. I decided it was time to consult the ancients for some answers. I did this in the presence of the Queen. She did not seem to mind.

Is the queen a monarch that the voices in the candle were referring to?Unclear.

Is the high cardinal a monarch that the voices in the candle were referring to?Seemingly no.

Is the keeper a monarch that the voices in the candle were referring to?No.

When the voices said “I have acquired things of theirs.”, were they referring to someone in our group?Yes.

Is Thakishtai still in danger?Yes.

Will (the monarch) be safe on the airship while we investigate Shattakar?Unclear.

When the voices said “I have one’s blood”, were they referring to someone in our group?Yes.

Should we trust the captain?Yes.

Should we trust the cardinals?Some.

Does the silver flame have the ability to fix Gilroy’s connection to Valiforaesten?Unclear, maybe.

Should we be more prepared for undead over demons in Shattakar?Yes.

It seems we’ve now entrenched ourselves in this grand scheme that we are still unclear as to what it could be. It is pretty clear that the Queen needs to be vacated if we aren’t around. I suggested that she join us to Shattakar and remain on the Airship. Arius whisked us out of the the palace to the airship, and now we have three tenants. I made certain to keep her as far from our other guest as possible in case he decided to explode into blood golems again. We left the following morning to Shattakar.

We parked as high as we could above the ruined city and flew down among the ruined structures. Making our way around, I quickly picked up that we were being watched and in short order, a battle ensued. It was a mix of undead and elven warriors and some hard hitting snipers. Gilroy nearly dropped after some brushes with energy draining abilities. Once we got some control over the snipers, it became significantly easier to deal with everything. Dazen took control over one of the elves. Interrogation will follow shortly.

I thought this was going to be a friendly visit. However the keeper’s beast had other ideas in mind. It charged me before many words were said. I scanned the room quickly and my assumption was that I could not teleport out of this area. So I flew to avoid combat. Both the beast and the keeper tried to sense evil in me and then the keeper attempted to banish me. That was when I realized she believed I was Quori. This assumption means she knows much about Riadrans. I wonder how she knows.

We cleared up the confusion and she knows I am not Quori, however the beast could still smell the armor I wear. She wants to perform a ritual to cleanse the armor, which I agreed to. After a bit of clearing up conversation I was free to head out. I do not understand how a little girl became such a powerful caster.

Next up to visit the church and be interrogtated is Dazen. His seemed to go smoothly and we’ve been tasked with checking out ruins that could be a base of operations for another group plaguing this area. We agreed to help to try to gain favor with the cardinals. Hopefully this will help us in getting Gilroy clser to the flame and the cardinals to help fix him. We will leave tomorrow and it will take us about a day by airship to get there.

My next meal, was interesting to say the least. some of the bread and chicken were burnt. The burning was not an accident persay. It was three words in infernal. Secret….home….below. I told the group about it and Dazen checked out the basement. He said he didn’t find anything other than a candle that had an aura.

The next morning Dazen realized that the aura from thecandle was a spell cast on the candle. Lukar said he was very good at sneaking into places and he could go retireve the candle unnotticed. After a few minutes I lost mental communication with him so we went to go check it out. There was no signs of him below. there was an evil aura and some necromancy in the area that quickly fades. Where did he go?

After some time guards came to the inn and told us Lukar was found about to attack Thakashtai. We quickly headed up to where he was being held and determined he was possessed after entering the basement of the inn. He appeared to have come through and wasn’t under the possesion any more. We asked if we could investigate the problem first.

By scanning each of the workers in the inn for magical capabilities as well as for evil we narrowed it down to the baker and one of the cooks. Coincidentally the two that handled my food that was burnt. We alerted the gaurds to have them arrested at which point they tried to kill themselves. We saved them both and they were arrested. Dazen dominated one which we questioned about their actions.

They said they followed the flame. Similar to the assassin’s that went after the Queen. They said the flame spoke to them. They summoned a shadow demon in the basement below which was what possessed Lukar. They have a candle that they use to communicate and receive their orders. Lukar was freed from his cell.

Our plan is to investigate the demon scenario a bit more today, listen to the candle tonight and then potentially head out to the ruins tomorrow.

Silver or gold

I’ve called out to her more than once, and she continues to answer. We’ve heard of the gods from the Heroes of Magic on more than one occasion, and Arorra continues to educate me on the cousins, but my connection to the Green Mother is primal. There is no worship; it is the nature of things, just as she is, and just as I am. I called out to her in distress, and the Green Mother showered stars upon the golden flames, dousing about half the room in water that fell in a silvery-blue light.

Things escalated quickly from there, but the important pieces are thus: get the people out, extinguish the flames, and save the Queen. The doors to the cathedral hall opened into the room, so Braun and I calmed the people down well enough to get the doors open. Gilroy, sensing trouble for his faith called upon the silver flame to grant him an ally, and with his prayer came a couatl (not Valefor) bursting from golden (not silver) flame. With my enhanced eyesight, I was able to see the golden fire was illusory magic, but I was one of the only people to notice. The captain we’d met earlier in the week, via the Queen, saw the golden fire and looked at Gilroy with instant vitriol. Content with the results, Gilroy and the couatl began helping where they could. For the couatl, it meant killing those ablaze if they were intent on harming others. For Lord-Knight Gilroy it meant rushing to the Queen’s aid, even as she was protected by her dwarven bodyguard and the aforementioned Captain.

Jayden was rushing toward the church from our ship as an elemental, pushing his speed as far as it could go. On his way, he noticed fires in the town, which caused him to transform into water and drench the flames.

Water was an important resource, as our new “ally” Lukar rushed Thakashtai as she commanded water to gush from an endless decanter; I am glad his judgement was sound. His skills seem valuable, and are certainly impressive to my eyes, though I admit his presence makes me miss Vindral. It seems his spirit belongs to the dragons now… maybe it always has.

Arius and I realized the Queen was under attack about the same time, and lent our abilities to Gilroy, the Captain, and the dwarf. I melted them away with acid shortly after Arius blinded them with sensory cascade. Braun joined us, shooting a fireball of his own toward our now-blind enemies, and Gilroy offered his hand to the Queen, Captain, and dwarf, readying to teleport them away. The Queen and her bodyguard left with him, though Captain Malik warned them he was not to be trusted.

Lukar, Jayden, and Arorra continued assisting the townspeople, be it with blade or magic, as the Queen’s attackers were finally dispatched. Captain Malik lay on the ground, unconscious from his wounds, as Arius and I approached the only enemy left alive. His mind was easy for me to dominate, especially given he was passed out.

Once the Captain was healed the church somewhat under control, we teleported to the ship, where Gilroy had healed the Queen and the dwarf via his own power and the symbol of healing. We discussed, as a group, for a time what we should do next. Jayden volunteered to watch after the Queen as a cat, after I volunteered Braun. Lukar asked if he could remain with us for the time, which was smart considering what he’d just seen us do. The rest of us were to wait for the church to arrest us, interrogate us, or attack us. We didn’t know.

That night, or rather very early the next morning, a contingent of guard came to collect Gilroy for an “interview” as part of their investigation. Both (nude) Braun and (clothed) Lukar were ready for battle, but instead I sought to notify Arius, who placed a telepathic bond on Gilroy after following the guard very briefly.

It turned out Gilroy’s interview was pretty harmless, and as I write this Arius is in the middle of his own interview. I’m sure it’s going just as well…

2016-03-26

Our last piece of business to see what the result of our actions were (are?) took us to the end to speak with Lotyr’eus. We seem to have made some progress but clearly not enough. I did inquire about what the ramifications of bringing more people would be. Suffice to say, he was ambiguous but it didn’t bode well. So, with all our new information, we returned to the past where I would be able to continue to showcase my vast ignorance of what it means to be a druid.

We have to see what the Emerald Claw is up to in their keep. We have to go to Thrane. I have to train with Raven and the Gatekeepers. There is too much to do, and the amount of time I have to do it in is uncertain. Fortunately, Thalanis is another time-neutral zone and I was able to convince Raven to join me in training there. I opted to go to the Earth zone, for her comfort. I think this choice was best. It’s pretty clear my natural inclination has erred toward water and air, so ice seems like the better focus for me. It will be interesting to see if the abilities gained here gets powered by whatever I have in me that has allowed me to call upon them before.

With that task completed, we went to the Green Heart for directions to the Emerald Claw base. It would have been many days of travel if it weren’t for transportation magic. Upon arrival, I flew up and located an area that seemed devoid of animal life, which seemed odd, so that was almost certainly going to be the destination. In scouting the base from the sky, I noticed many skeletons lining the walls and was immediately fired upon by them. Great.

We resolved to have Dazen create an illusion in the back while we assaulted from the front. From there, chaos and frustration ensued. We found that aside from the skeletons, horrid and powerful aberrant/extraplanar/undead creatures dwelt within, including some that Arius was able to interact with and instruct to leave us alone.

But not promising enough...

I’ve learned much of history and my heritage these past few months. I’m strong, stronger than I ever thought possible. I may even be immortal, but I won’t let those thoughts keep me from losing my sense of mortality, of humanity, of responsibility. I am the Scion of Stars, a Lord of the Fey gifted with power by the will of nature and the Green Mother, but I am also Dazen. I’m a warlock… a singer… a friend… a brother… and a son. The boy who went into the woods looking for a tree to burn is in the past. My future is silver starlight and green with life.

I guess it was our trip back to our time that made me look inward. We hadn’t been there for some time, for personal reasons or even to check on our progress. And so, the airship’s time elemental sent us forward through time and left us floating in the sky. From there we visited several places, and spoke to many people.

Here’s what we learned:

Bright (Bahamut, Vindral, Damar, Alara, Danara)

Bahamut’s mortal form is a 6’ tall human man with whitish-blonde hair, even toned skin, wearing clothes of a gray opalescent cloth

Bahamut is still free to leave the tower

Aurora pointed out that Damar is no longer cursed

Crythis is Damar’s ancestor, and what we’ve changed made it so Damar never met Crythis or did anything nefarious with him

Our changes made it so Damar is the one who helped us find Crythis’s lab and the airship

The planes, including Thelanis (Fey realm) still crashed

Ruins (Orchid)

Some of the Fey survived the planar collapse by dwelling in the Valley

The Green Man and the Lady Eldeen want to speak with me

Alua is surrounded by a wall with watchtowers

A few hundred Fey stay at or around the Ruins, many of them in my Court

Sometimes the Fey trade with the kobolds

Dusk and Dawn court members visit, and are getting along decently well

Aldarizen’s Mountain/Volcano (Aldarizen, Ifrit)

Instead of ruined stones, there is an open air gazebo

Aldarizen is still standing guard at the top of the mountain

Ifrit still fought (and lost) to Aldarizen for years in hopes of breaking him from his trap

The salamanders greet Arius as “Lord Arius”

Ifrit was in Thelanis at the Fire Volcano when planes fractured; appeared in another volcano instantly

Ifrit was still cast out as an exile

Observatory (Damar)

Damar was looking over the notes Gilroy had just given him hours earlier

Damar believes the guardian is an Inevitable, particularly a Lhaksharut

Damar says Inevitables are usually about keeping order, but this one seems concerned with containing something

Damar is able to use the teleportation platform; “Try to feel the magic energy coming from it then tune yourself to it like you had a tuning fork.”

Ruins Again (Seesha)

Damar thinks Vindral is depressed about something, and that Bahamut seems very intent on fixing up Bright for something

Damar is able to repel some of the dangerous animals around Bright

Land of elves is now undead

Most of the cities of the past were heavily involved in strong magic

A great deal of powerful magical research was done in Undare (Arcanix, where commonfolk would study magic)

Giants ruled over the elves in the lost continent of Xendric

Shiva is high up in one of the northern mountains

Garrarehan

Murals were mostly the same

New mural with crowned man, glowing man, floating elf, man with star on head but closed eyes (like he was sleeping)

We talked to a lot of people in Alua, so I’ll location within Alua instead of writing Alua over and over again:

Annabelle’s

Asked about Vindral

Lisban (Dazen’s ex) and Than (woodcutter, friends with Vindral) are getting married

We took the road from Annabelle’s to my family’s home, and no one looked at us strangely, even with our gear glowing. I still did not show my crown, but I was floating the whole time. Progress. It was also during this walk we saw the sheriff, who said Fwarie and the Speaker want to see us, and that we should speak with the leader.

My House (Mom and Dad)

2 level home, thatched roof

Seesha helps water the farm and keep the Fey at bay

Dad says Seesha is helpful and is glad I found something I’m good at (magic)

Mom is making something out of cooked sugar; really sweet and very delicious; she gave us a bag

Terring’s (Gilroy’s mother and father)

Gilroy’s mother asked me if I thought Bomb would marry my sister; she thinks it’d be wonderful if our families were to join; I smiled convincingly

Gilroy’s father said he looked good, is glad the area is fortified with walls

Gilroy’s father said they trade with kobolds, and even Fey, though the fey often bring strange things (probably stolen)

Gilroy’s father said the elven area is not fortified by walls, but is fortified by the druidic power of the chief

Cayman’s Study (Cayman)

Study was nicely appointed with fine decorations

Spoke like a man who knew his time was drawing to a close

Said a few creepy things, but I was not able to pick up on most of it

Said the council in Sarrington is wary of us

Asked Gilroy how his magic was progressing

Speaker’s

Says he can do 5th circle magic now, including teleport

Took him to Bright to help fix things

Gave him Crythis’s spellbook to copy new magic

Pointed out how to use the teleportation platforms

Leader’s

Definitely some type of psion

Arius gave him some starting advice and helped explain some things to him

Interesting that the men who once investigated us for using magic and “causing a cometfall” are now benefiting from our “rule-breaking”.

Speaking of rule-breaking, Gilroy revealed he allowed the evil within him to assist him in our last big fight, where he almost died. Apparently it caused some type of abberant armor to grow from Gilroy’s own muscle. Like the others Vindral once wore, this one comes with a price as its teeth chew into your flesh. This one is definitely intelligent, in that Arius can communicate with telepathically with ease. I don’t trust it. It’s unnatural, and looks disgusting. Gilroy gave it to Arius to wear, as a gesture of kindness, given Arius’s vulnerability, but I worry the cost of our power is going to weigh down on us in the end.

How long til the evil inside of Gilroy takes him from us? How long before the dark void Jayden calls open consumes him? How long before the People’s Overlord earns (or re-earns) his title?

They came upon us quickly and many of our group were surrounded. Blood wights and Blood Golems arising from the ground and being controlled by a Lich. I don’t how much use I will be during this fight however I can at least help protect my comrades. There are so many questions I keep asking myself. What do we want to change here? Who is supposed to die at this time and who is supposed to live? How much of what we do here will change the future and to what means? Is Varden supposed to die at this time? Would this have all happened if we didn’t show up?

Too many questions to think about right now. I need to start by saving my comrades before they share the same fate as the dropped council members. I know it is possible to move them all at once, yes, there it is.

Time and space tear open around the comrades to engulf them and quickly they are extracted into a more advantageous position.

I will not be of much use against these minions and they are definitely formidable foes. I have faith in my allies. I must target the Lich and make sure he doesn’t go anywhere.

Gilroy calls upon his faith to transform himself into what seems like a being of pure divine energy

It appears there are some benefits to worshiping another power. I will still never be the Pawn of some greater power. I refuse to be.

Dazen moves next to Arorra and his super crown comes out then he calls on the Green Mother for aid. She represents the dangerous side of nature. Dazen glows like a star himself and in a swirl of wind Olean’s plant parts are swirled into his form and he gains leafy starlight shapes. He pulls into his chest and removes some energy and a globe of ice appears. Arctic blast swirls through the globe and blasts many of the enemies.

The amount of power being wielded reminds me of the power granted to us by Keldrith. I can feel it in the air, it’s palpable. I must hold the Lich while they take care of the rest.

A beam of green chains shoot from Arius’ hand striking the leech encircling him and chaining to the ground before dissipating away. Quickly after a streak of pure energy strikes at the Lich disintegrating away much of his body

He’s held now but there is still much happening. Olean is being struck, but he is strong and not to be worried about. We need to end this.

Dazen begins dispatching more of the blood enemies with more articic blasts and his witchfire. Jaden calls upon his nature spirts to blast the Lich with a beam of sunlight. Finally Gilroy flies toward the Lich striking it down with the power of his faith

This is not done yet, Olean is still being struck from above and below. Jaden has already gone down below with other Druids, he tells me he needs my help. I will leave the enemies on the surface to my allies.

It appears, my help is not needed down below. There were Xorn down here and they have already been taken care of. Jaden must think I have unlimited resources to psychoport as much as I want.

The crisis has been averted, or has it. Aurora knows things have changed, but what? What did we fix, or have we simply caused more problems? Still so many questions. We must go to the future and see what has become of the actions on this day.

Fighting evil by moonlight
Binding hell by daylight
Never running from a real fight!
He is the one named Valefor!

The Druid Moot is upon us. Gilroy is certain that this is the time when the deal is struck and the world is doomed. He said that the Illuminated would come to or infiltrate the meeting and trick the Gatekeepers into binding the planes. They’ll have a very strong argument with the way the Gloaming has been spilling into the realm.

Many are here in attendance:

The Ashbound, agents of chaos and enemy of civilization, are here. Storm Claw is their leader, fond of bear shapes, and flanked by his man Gorul Lupin III.

The Children of Winter, heralds of the end times, are led by Raven. She’s joined by Forlorn and Varden/Crythas. No Nightbringers are here. I should have liked to meet them.

The Greensingers…also are agents of chaos. Their affinity for the fey can cloud their judgment for what is right and good. Though often well intentioned they required a wise hand to guide them. Silvertongue is here although not with his strongest allies.

Doruun is leading the Gatekeepers today, Asala is not present. Magrim Torn is leader of Clan Torn and Speaker of the Triumverate. Dragonmarked strongly, I must be vigilant.

The Wardens of the Wood, led by Olean, Fayna speaks for them. Maelin, Habar, and Root are also in attendance.

I will watch and listen now as it begins…

The Emerald Claw. We should destroy them. They pervert the proper order of life and death. We should ride out to their fortress, smite their arcanist leader upon the mountain and cleanse the realm of their sins.

The Druids accept our proof of the Emerald Claw’s involvement. This is good. It bodes well…why are you laughing, fiend?

Now is the time. The Illuminated have come. The mortals were right. But will we fight them here and now or is there a way to undo their intrigues?

They are led by a Lyrandar but I sense no evil in him. And no strong evil in the group of note. Perhaps they are acting on the behest of some other malign power yet to reveal itself.

They’ve made their proposal, bind the portals. Combine their powers, let the Illuminated manage it. And Gilroy and his friends have decided to attempt intrigue. When will he learn that he lacks this power. I must counsel him to leave this to his betters. He is young. He will learn.

The groups are all in agreement. The plan will advance, the gates to be closed. And the resilient souls will be involved. Perhaps this is the best outcome. I will meditate on these events and…

Yes! Haaaahahahaha.

No! Crythas exploded? So it will be battle after all. The future may not survive today.

GILROY! SUMMON ME!

What’s this? There’s another spirit here! It’s at the gate! It’s…no it can’t be! I will let him through.

2016-1-10

The ominous shadow creature loomed overhead as its minions approached us from the ground. Dazen put up an energy field to block the shadows from attacking us, but it was clear the greater threat was that massive thing. I separated myself from the group and mustered up as much strength as a I could to call on the magic of the sun and in one blast, I severely wounded the creature. It retreated, and rather than follow it back into the pit, we retreated back to the children.

We spent the night in the cave and explained the situation to Raven the following morning. With Forlorn in tow, we returned to the site to find it empty aside from the portal. The bodies were also gone, presumably turned into the undead. I communed while Forlorn looked things over. It’s still unclear as to why the Gloaming has stopped its growth. We have to catch that spellcaster that escaped I believe.

With no other information to be gathered, we went back. I expressed my interest in learning of ice magic to Raven and she indicated she would teach me. After this, we returned to guard the caravan from the imminent attack from the Asheborne. As predicted, they did attack. In the form of multiple bears, they began a charge on the caravan, which we rebuked with no bloodshed. I delivered my message and we escorted them to their destination. From there, back to Greenheart we went.

Once there, the events of the last few days were related to Fayna and we proceeded to wait for the grand meeting of the druids to begin. While waiting, I began my training with Raven. She caught on pretty quickly that my understanding of how things work makes very little sense. I still kept her in the dark. As it is, I fear my involvement in this meeting might have unforeseen consequences. At this point, it’s too late to turn back.

Where does the darkness lead?

As we approached what must be considered the “center” of the Gloaming, we saw a group of guards wearing the Emerald Claw emblem. There was a brief period of combat, but they were no match for us. We would soon learn the real challenge lay below.

I dominated one of the Guards to get some quick information. While he did not possess an overwhelming amount of useful knowledge, we did learn there were others beneath our feet, underground through one of the holes, and they were doing something to/with the Gloaming. He confirmed they were spellcasters and at least one of them was talented with undeath.

Soon after, an invisible man dressed in dark armor with a greatsword wreathed in black fire flew out and stabbed Gilroy in the throat, then said “blind” in my direction, but his target was Arius. Power Word spells are very strong, and very dangerous; this man was no simple guard.

Following the dark stranger, a woman with a scythe emerged from the hole. She, too, was flying, and opened with a Silence spell on me. With the help of the grace bestowed upon me by Gilroy, I shrugged it off with ease. It was at that point Jayden and I heard something else coming from the hole in the ground; he acted quickly to create a dome-shaped wall of ice to keep whatever was coming from getting out. A second later, several bursts of red glowed from inside the dome until part of the wall exploded outward. What emerged was a rabid corpse-like creature, standing on four legs with a crook spine and large pustules across its body.

Arorra moved as she pulled her dark patterns of writing around her, giving her eyes a glow. Apparently able to see invisibility now, she focused her power out at the dark stranger, but missed him. She would have hit him, had it not been for the displacement spell I now recognized. At that moment, Jayden and I noticed skeletal hands clawing from the ground; they would emerge in a matter of seconds. Wasting no time, Gilroy flew away from the dark stranger who tried to hit Gilroy as the opportunity presented itself, but he couldn’t. Upon reaching Arius, Gilroy laid his hands upon him to cure his blindness in a beautiful spectacle of healing light.

I asked Braun if he felt he could handle the woman, and he nodded nonchalantly, so I focused my power into the strongest dispelling magic I know, greater dispel magic, and targeted the dark stranger. I ended his invisibility and two other spells that must have been strong magic, because the displacement was still active, or its source was not a spell. Arius, with his sight back, used brutalize wounds on the woman. Then, true to his word, and with help from Arius’s power, Braun moved forward very swiftly as his features became more artificial and elven simultaneously, like when I wear the Crown of Stars. He lashed out with his staff, hitting the woman while casting corrosive grasp, causing dark energy to flow out from the staff, onto the woman, then back into him; she passed out, apparently dead. Mirroring the attack on his female companion, the dark stranger charged at Arorra, hitting her with his greatsword, as Jayden cast wall of light around the hole, as an additional deterrent.

Inside the hole, Jayden and I heard someone casting dispel magic, but we didn’t notice any change to the hole or otherwise. Arorra took a quick step backward as she fired her pattern magic at the stranger, but he pushed it off with a very recognizable look of worry on his face. Then the skeletons emerged from underground, many moving toward Arorra and attacking her, but all failed to break through the pattern of magic around her. Many of us took notice the skeletons were former Emerald Claw soldiers, as their armor indicated. Now worried Arorra was in danger, Gilroy summoned Valeforastin, mounted him, flew over to Arorra, and teleported the three of them 20 feet into the air as Valefor made Arorra invisible. Arius turned his attention to the dark stranger, who resisted a mind wipe, just as I tried hitting him with witchfire that passed through his displacement. Braun moved up beside me, which I must admit, makes me feel much more comfortable than I originally anticipated. The dark stranger flew over to the woman, prayed and cast heal on her, bringing her back from the brink of death. Lesson learned: finish the job. She tried dispelling the wall of light around the hole, but failed, as Jayden attempted to contact and summon the Lady Eldeen, but couldn’t. The rabid-dog-like-creature tried attacking the soldier under my control, but missed.

Arorra blasted one of the skeletons with her magic pattern, destroying it as the patterns burst out destroying two more skeletons. The remaining skeletons attacked the soldier under my control and killed him. Gilroy dismounted and flew over to the dark stranger and woman, both of them trying to attack him but missing. With a few words, Gilroy summoned the male unicorn we met briefly, who started smiting the woman, hitting her three times. Valefor tried hitting the dark stranger, but missed as Arius tried mind wiping the stranger again. He resisted the power, clearly strong of will. Then I reached deep into the tome of stars and pulled out strands of starlight witchfire that obliterated the woman, thanks to Arius’s brutalize wounds still affecting her, and then chained it over to the dark stranger hurting him as well. Braun used the wand of fireball, killing the remaining skeletons, and injuring the rabid dog, as the dark stranger uttered a word of chaos, banishing Valefor as he screamed. The unicorn was fine, and Gilroy resisted the dangerous power. Suspecting more enemies in the hole, Jayden flew over it and cast a flame strike down into the darkness, cleansing it with holy fire.

Maybe a second later, two invisible and burned men in cloaks with crossbows on their backs emerged from the hole, holding their eyes, and started to run away. Arorra chased after them, shooting her pattern out, killing them both. Then, in a flurry of blows, Gilroy and the unicorn attacked the dark stranger dealing a massive amount of damage to him, but still, he stood. Sensing his opportunity, Arius used brutalize wounds on the dark stranger, which the man no longer had the will to resist. I shot witchfire at him, hoping to destroy him like he did the woman, but the displacement saved his life. Then Braun moved down to the dog creature, shoving his staff through its face as dark energy flowed up the staff into Braun.

The dark stranger moved past Gilroy and the unicorn, both missing attacks of opportunity because of the displacement, flew over a different hole and said “the power is mine”, and then let himself fall downward in a thump. Jayden moved but couldn’t see far enough down. Arorra asked if we were pursuing as Gilroy asked the unicorn if he was ready to continue. Arius flew over to the pit as I flew into the hole and said, “The light of my people will guide us”, summoning dancing lights from my Crown. Braun stayed at my side. Jayden changed his shape into a magma elemental and began skating through the earth.

Arorra made herself invisible as I sent the dancing lights ahead of us, asking Jayden to look around. It was a hollowed out cavern with many emerald claw corpses, and some civilian corpses, piled together. Strangely, none of the corpses were rotting. I mentioned they must be fresh, or their being kept fresh by some type of magic. Gilroy detecting evil on the corpses, but detected none, as Jayden found a dark portal set into the wall. He detected no magic on it, and Gilroy detected no evil on it. I sent my dancing lights in, but could not bring them out, so I created more. I asked Arorra if she knew anything about it, and she stated what we all expected: this was the portal to Mabar. Looking for answers, Jayden began using his divination ability as his eyes went dark like the void in front of us. He learned that the source of the problem was not here, that it could be on the other side, that there were Emerald Claw soldiers on the other side, and that the issue is definitely not fixed yet. Jayden requested we stay down near the portal, in case the mage that must have run away comes back. Arius setup mind links on everyone, and we split up to different parts of the cavern. We gathered up the different spoils of combat, but after an hour we all felt negative energy permeating our bodies.

We resigned to waiting outside the cavern where we fought the dark stranger and woman. We began to rest. I drifted to sleep very quickly, having depleted a fair amount of my power. I thought about the dark stranger’s last words: “The power is mine”, which we had heard once before when we were mugged in Sharn…

The next thing I remember is waking to Jayden’s voice saying, “Everyone needs to get up, NOW!”

Pew Pew

Gloaming
Has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell

Captain’s Log – 15th of Arvendor, 998 YK; Epoch-1

“Now we’re off to follow our desires to find the evil and save this land. Finally, something in this accursed realm I can behind and it doesn’t have hooves.”

Well, I’ve been wronger before. But not often by this much. The Gloaming, so we’ve been told, is a planar zone of Mabar, the Endless Night. The outer reaches are simply shadowy woods. The supernatural effect of the Endless Night is only a suggestion in the recesses of your perceptions. The comforting sounds of wildlife are replaced by alternating booming silence, turgid rot, and your own heart beat as you hope the creatures beyond the realm of sight are alive, not something worse.

So naturally we’ve charged headlong into this place on a noble quest. We’ve entered this realm of Night to ensure that it GROWS! What madness is this? Next thing you know we’ll be kidnapping children because there’s a shortage of mining labor and they need a strong workforce to adorn the upper crust with precious metals. Those with knowledge of such things, and Jaden trusts them, claim that the Gloaming MUST grow. Just like the seasons and the tides it is a cycle. Someone or something has interrupted the cycle. Fine. I get it. I don’t like it though. And heaven help those witches if they’ve dared to deceive us.

As we approached the inner wastes of this land we found and rescued two nymphs and the great centipede from a bunch of Bodaks. It was here that we discovered that Mabar is strong enough to dim my connection to the Divine. My powers still work and I can call on them reliably but not as much light can channel through the darkness. It’s worrisome, but thankfully this darkness does not dim Gayzen’s starlight. Nor does it seem to impede anyone else except when they try to tap the positive energy realms.

At the center of this wasteland the woods have transformed completely into a forbidding husk. The soul of the forest molted and left behind only vines, thorns, and loss. Thankfully Jaden’s powers of flight let us continue our travels without getting a closer look at these places.

At the center of the wastes is a band of the Emerald Claw led by General Puridane. He and his dark priests are here for the planar breach to Mabar. He may not have caused it, but they surely will use it to spread undead and other abominations. There is a pit, likely where the core of their expedition is waiting for us. The pit must be infused with pure darkness. I don’t know if I have the best or worst chance of surviving down there. But no normal mortals can bear it for more than a few hours. Our reprieve after taking out the guards and interrogating them will be short lived…

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Arius in his grand wisdom decided to see if he could call on Ifrit, which he was. Ifrit immediately turned invisible on arrival at which point I removed myself from the situation so that mess could be cleaned up. They talked a bit about their relationship and then he left.

Shortly thereafter a Nereid emerged from the waters and was promptly appointed by Dazen as the new guardian of the area. After doing this, it seemed clear we would have to do this in each of the elemental zones. Dazen also called on Seasha to help protect her since the Nereid is fairly weak right now.

We returned to the fire area and summoned Ifrit again to help ignite the volcano once more. Arius also decided to tell him the whole truth about how they meet. This was probably a good idea. Dazen gave me permission to appoint the magma elemental as the guardian of the volcano and with Ifrit’s help, they caused a grand eruption.

We returned to the earth area where Dazen thought it would be good to sing out to find something to protect this little wasteland. He found a vile little fey known as a woodwose who only came because he despised Dazen’s singing. Upon being appointed the guardianship, he remade the zone into a rather foreboding region.

The following day, we took to the sky to get into the air zone. Eventually we got onto some solid clouds and found a castle. Inside we came across Path. It would seem this region had not been corrupted, so we left.

Upon returning to the dusk court, Exphasia already knew the events that had transpired, so we went back to the Twilight Diments. Dazen immediately calls for court that evening and acquired a Pixie trumpeteer for his personal court.

While waiting for this grand party, I returned to Green Heart to consult Fayna on who could give me training more focused in the elements. She listed a few, but the one that caught my attention was Raven, the head of the Children in the gloaming. She is known specifically for ice talent. I don’t know why I am bringing this on myself. This person sounds like trouble.

That night, the party happens. It is a grand affair which I had no particular interest in. However, 1 hour into the party, a somewhat harrowing figure named Vile joined the party. At first I thought it was this Raven person since it came in as a Raven, but I was wrong, and went back to my watch. Arius spent most of the night trying to get his problem fixed and Gilroy got a great deal of attention from the Fey. Dazen spent most of the party adding to his court.

The capstone of the event was when a woman came out of Thalanis and caught everyone’s attention. We were told she is known as the Green Mother. She had a conversation with each of us. We learned that Dazen is infected with something similar to what Arius has… and so am I. She presented Gilroy with some grand armor. He’ll have some explaining to Kheller to do. Exphasia presented Dazen with a choker to increase his witchfire.

Reluctantly, I agreed with the group that we will first get the infections removed. I am keeping mine to myself for now. I can’t have them questioning my observations when I am typically the only one that can make them in the first place.